(KJV) Esther 31

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⥃Haman’s Plot against the Jews

[1] After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman2 the son of Hammedatha the Agagite3, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes4 that [were] with him.5 [2] And all the king’s servants6, that [were] in the king’s gate, bowed7, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not8, nor did [him] reverence. [3] Then the king’s servants, which [were] in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why9 transgressest thou the king’s commandment? [4] Now it came to pass, when they spake10 daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told11 Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told12 them that he [was] a Jew. [5] And when Haman saw that Mordecai13 bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath14. [6] And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought15 to destroy all the Jews that [were] throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, [even] the people of Mordecai.

[7] In the first month16, that [is], the month Nisan, in the twelfth17 year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur18, that [is], the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], that [is], the month Adar19.

[8] [¶]And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad20 and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws21 [are] diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it [is] not for the king’s profit to22 suffer them. [9] If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed23: and I will pay24 ten thousand25 talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring [it] into the king’s treasuries. [10] And the king took26 his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy27. [11] And the king said unto Haman, The silver [is] given to thee, the people also, to do28 with them as it seemeth good to thee. [12] Then were29 the king’s scribes30 called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according31 to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that [were] over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and [to] every people after their language; in the name32 of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed33 with the king’s ring. [13] And the letters were sent by posts34 into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young35 and old, little children and women, in one day36, [even] upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which [is] the month Adar, and [to take] the spoil37 of them for a prey. [14] The copy38 of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. [15] The posts went out, being hastened39 by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down40 to drink; but the city41 Shushan was perplexed.

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  1. Esth 3:1, Haman, advanced by the king, and despised by Mordecai, seeks revenge upon all the Jews; Esth 3:7, He casts lots; Esth 3:8, He obtains by calumniation a decree of the king to put the Jews to death. ↩

  2. Esth 7:6; Ps 12:8; Prov 29:2 ↩

  3. Num 24:7; 1Sam 15:8, 1Sam 15:33 ↩

  4. Esth 1:14; Gen 41:40, Gen 41:55; Ezra 7:14; Dan 6:2 ↩

  5. am 3551, bc 453 ↩

  6. Dr. Shaw, speaking of the cities in the East, says, "If we quit the streets, and enter into any of the principal houses, we shall first pass through a porch, or gate-way, with benches on each side, where the master of the family receives visits, and despatches business; few persons, not even the nearest relations, having admission any farther, except upon extraordinary occasions." These servants were probably officers who here waited the king's call; and it is likely that Mordecai was one of them. Esth 2:19, Esth 2:21 ↩

  7. Gen 41:43; Phil 2:10 ↩

  8. Yichra welo yishtachaweh, "bowed not down, nor prostrated himself," or worshipped him. Had this meant only civil reverence the king would not have needed to command it; nor would Mordecai have refused it; there was, therefore, some kind of divine honour intended, such as was paid to the Persian kings, and which even the Greeks refused, as express adoration. Esth 3:1, Esth 3:5; Exod 17:14, Exod 17:16; Deut 25:19; 1Sam 15:3; Ps 15:4 ↩

  9. Esth 3:2; Exod 1:17; Matt 15:2-3 ↩

  10. Gen 39:10 ↩

  11. Dan 3:8-9, Dan 6:13 ↩

  12. Ezra 1:3; Dan 3:12, Dan 3:16-18, Dan 3:23-30, Dan 6:20-28; Jonah 1:9 ↩

  13. Esth 3:2, Esth 5:9 ↩

  14. Esth 1:12; Gen 4:5-6; Job 5:2; Prov 12:16, Prov 19:19, Prov 21:24, Prov 27:3-4; Dan 3:19 ↩

  15. Ps 83:4; Rev 12:12 ↩

  16. Neh 2:1 ↩

  17. Esth 1:3, Esth 2:16 ↩

  18. Esth 9:24-26; Prov 16:33; Ezek 21:21-22; Matt 27:35 ↩

  19. Esth 9:1, Esth 9:5, Esth 9:17-19, Esth 9:21; Ezra 6:15 ↩

  20. Lev 26:33; Deut 4:27, Deut 30:3, Deut 32:26; Neh 1:8; Jer 50:17; Ezek 6:8, Ezek 11:16; Zech 7:14; John 7:35; Jas 1:1; 1Pet 1:1 ↩

  21. Ezra 4:12-15; Acts 16:20-21, Acts 17:6-7, Acts 24:5, Acts 28:22 ↩

  22. Heb. meet, or equal for the king to, etc ↩

  23. Heb. to destroy them ↩

  24. Heb. and I will weigh, Gen 23:16; Here Haman is obliged to acknowledge that there would be a loss to the revenue, which he was willing to make up out of his own property. Ten thousand talents of silver, counted by the Babylonish talent, amount to 2,119,000£.; but reckoned by the Jewish talent, they amount to double that sum. In those days, silver and gold were more plentiful than at present; and we have many instances of individuals possessing almost incredible riches. Herodotus relates, that when Xerxes went into Greece, Pythius the Lydian had 2,000 talents of silver, and 4,000,000 of gold darics, which unitedly amount to nearly 5,500,000£. Plutarch tells us, that after Crassus had dedicated the tenth of all he had to Hercules, he entertained the Roman people at 10,000 tables, and distributed to every citizen as much corn as was sufficient for three months; and, after all these expenses, he had 7,100; Roman talents left, which amount to more than 1,500,000£. Lentulus the augur is said to have possessed no less than 3,333,333£. 6s. 8d. Apicius was worth more than 916,671£ 13s. 4d.; and, after having spent in his kitchen 833,333£ 6s. 8d. he considered the remainder too little for his support, and poisoned himself! ↩

  25. Matt 18:24 ↩

  26. Esth 8:2, Esth 8:8; Gen 41:42 ↩

  27. or, oppressor, Esth 7:6 ↩

  28. Ps 73:7; Jer 26:14, Jer 40:4; Luke 23:25 ↩

  29. Esth 8:9-17 ↩

  30. or, secretaries ↩

  31. Esth 1:22, Esth 8:9, Esth 9:27 ↩

  32. 1Kgs 21:8; Dan 6:8, Dan 6:12, Dan 6:15 ↩

  33. Esth 8:2, Esth 8:8, Esth 8:10 ↩

  34. Esth 8:10, Esth 8:14; 2Chr 30:6; Job 9:25; Jer 51:31; Rom 3:15 ↩

  35. 1Sam 15:3, 1Sam 22:19 ↩

  36. Esth 8:12-14; Jas 2:13 ↩

  37. Esth 8:11, Esth 9:10; Isa 10:6 ↩

  38. Esth 8:13-14 ↩

  39. Prov 1:16, Prov 4:16 ↩

  40. Hos 7:5; Amos 6:6; John 16:20; Rev 11:10 ↩

  41. Esth 4:16, Esth 8:15; Prov 29:2 ↩